Inquest Should Be Held On Death At County Jail

October 4, 1985

BROWARD COUNTY Sheriff Nick Navarro concluded last week that medical care at the jail was adequate to protect the lives and welfare of county prisoners. Now, the death of Kathryn Ann Entress, 37, contradicts the sheriff.

Entress Coming so shortly after two former jail nurses charged that care provided by their employer, Prison Health Services Inc., was woefully inadequate for the jail`s 800 prisoners, the death of Entress confirms the need for a truly independent assessment.

Entress was arrested last Friday for failing to appear in court for a misdemeanor charge of petty theft. Accused of stealing water from Miramar by illegally connecting her trailer to a city water pipe, Entress remained in jail through the weekend because she was unable to post a $250 bond.

Entress died Sunday of asphyxiation brought on by an asthma attack -- an attack that, according to the medical examiner, could have been prevented had deputies allowed her to keep her nonpresription medicine.

Sheriff Nick Navarro should immediately call for an inquest into Entress` death, an unusual court procedure in which the state attorney`s office publicly presents evidence and questions witnesses so that a county judge can determine whether the death was the result of a criminal act, criminal negligence or foul play. Barring such a request from Navarro, Broward County State Attorney Michael Satz should initiate an inquest on his own.

Only the public nature of an inquest would put to rest any suspicion that Navarro`s investigators might not objectively pursue their own investigation of the jail death.

Navarro also should request that a county grand jury investigate the quality of medical treatment available to prisoners. A similar request already has been filed in U.S. District Court by an attorney representing Broward County Jail inmates in a nine-year-old federal suit on prison conditions.

Too many conflicting statements have been made: The sheriff and jail doctor saying conditions are fine, the two nurses saying care is deficient and then being fired for publicly complaining.

The life of a woman, who was too poor to buy her temporary freedom, was lost because she became ill in jail. Another person should not have to die for lack of medical treatment.